WEDNESDAY FAITH CONNECTION 3. (Ch.1:13-23) The Exalted Jesus Dr. David Renwick – above every power that can cut us off from God or diminish our National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC self image 4. (Ch.1:21-29) Jesus proclaimed as a “Mystery” COLOSSIANS: A Church, a City, and a Letter — revealed in space and time for everyone June 10, 2020 – Jesus’ Team At Work 5. (Ch.2:1-23) Jesus or Religion? . -- no longer trying to please, or placate someone! What Have We Covered So Far? . 6. (Ch.3:1-17) Jesus’ Life in Our Lives 1. Background – Two images: a. death/resurrection (put to death . ) b. clothing (take off/put on) – lists of dos and don’ts . from Jesus’ teaching 7. Last Week (Ch.3:18-4:6) Jesus’ Life in Our Everyday Relationships • Men/Women, • Parent/Child, • Slave (servant, see 4:12; employee?)/Free wherever there is a power differential What Are We To Make Of These Admonitions? 1. Maybe not as severe as people think? • E.g., Is the word “submission” or “be subject” a correct translation? →Even if it is . then we need to remember . .“Submission” called for from everyone -- Jesus is “subject” to the Father (1 Cor.15) -- husbands are to be subject to wives (Eph 5:21) • Does it ever have other meanings? YES! It can be as “weak” AS “Be still” or “Pay attention to” 2. The Passage itself is Revolutionary o These groups people are all in the same small house church as each other; Addressed directly o Not through the men in power (indirectly) For example: • The owners would have heard the admonition to the slaves • Slaves heard the admonition to the owners EVERYONE ends up being a servant Why? Because Jesus was a servant!! Grovel? NO!! -- known by God, raised to enormous heights -- friends of the exalted Christ 2. (Ch.1:1-14; 4:2-6) Praying for Jesus’ Power TODAY: Jesus’ Team at Work TYCHICUS ay seem to be rather boring . but Colossians ends with a list of 10 (11) In 4:7-8 he is called . names: • a beloved brother, COLOSSIANS 4:7-18 • a faithful minister (deacon) 7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; • and a fellow servant (sun-doulos) he is a beloved brother, in the Lord a faithful minister (diakonos = deacon), → an encourager and a fellow servant (sun-doulos) in the Lord. → a messenger of Paul. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are Where else can we learn about him? and that he may encourage your hearts; ➢ Acts 20.4 – travels with Paul back to Judea 9 he is coming with Onesimus, ➢ 2 Timothy 4:12 – sent by Paul to Ephesus the faithful and beloved brother, ➢ Titus 3:12 – possibly sent by Paul to Titus in Crete? who is one of you. (= a Colossian) They will tell you about everything here. ➢ Ephesians 6:21 (mentioned) 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, PAUL’S WORLD as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions —if he comes to you, welcome him. 11And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you (= a Colossian), a servant (=doulos) of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. 13For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, (a nearby city) and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. ******* What do we know about these early Christians? ONESIMUS DEMAS 9 the faithful and beloved brother, ➢ Philemon 24 – in good standing! . but by the time we get to who is one of you. ➢ 2 Timothy 4:10 – “deserted me, gone to Thessalonika” They will tell you about everything here. 15NYMPHA ➢ A Colossian (“one of you”) and the church in her house. Lives in Laodicea ➢ The Letter to Philemon tells his story as a runaway slave ➢ Acts 16:15 → like Lydia in Philippi o (Note: Philemon, Paul’s friend, is not mentioned in this list. We don’t know why!) 17 ARCHIPPUS ➢ (c.AD 100?) Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch “complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” mentions a person named “Onesimus” as the Bishop of Ephesus ➢ Philemon 2 – Paul’s fellow soldier. Mentions the church in his house → a house-church leader? . is this “the task?” ARISTARCHUS 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you ******* “A Fellow prisoner” Literal? Or captive of Christ? ➢ Philemon 23-24 So here we have a picture of the early “Body of Christ” ➢ Acts 19:29 Gets in trouble with Paul in a riot in Ephesus ➢ Acts 20:4 A Macedonian from Thessalonica; a companion as Paul goes back to Judea WHAT ELSE DO WE SEE ➢ Acts 27:2 a companion on Paul’s voyage to Rome. If We Look At The Endings of OTHER LETTERS? MARK (the Gospel Writer?) the cousin of Barnabas ➢ Estrangement from Paul. (Acts 13:13, 15:38) ➢ Maybe Mark needed Paul to mention that he should be “given a For Example: welcome” (because the Colossians knew of this estrangement)? I. Who exactly was the actual writer (with pen and ink!)? Colossians 4:18 11JESUS who is called JUSTUS – Jewish; Has Jewish and Greek names, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. like Paul 12EPAPHRAS 1 Corinthians 16:21 • Cf. 1:7, 4.12-13. a Colossian, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. • a servant (doulos) of Christ Jesus, Galatians 6:11 • wrestling (agonized) in his prayers on your behalf, See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! • he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in 2 Thessalonians 3: 17 Hierapolis. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in ➢ Philemon 23 . ‘my fellow prisoner in Christ sends greetings’ every letter of mine; it is the way I write. Philemon 19 14LUKE, the beloved physician (Another Gospel Writer!?) I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand Only mentioned in here in Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24, & 2 Timothy 4:11 AND THEN . NOTE: There is no clear statement that he is the Author of Luke/Acts →Romans 16:22 I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. OR . II. How did Paul normally sign off? OR . III. How did you normally greet each other in church? Colossians 4:18 = ‘pass the peace’? “Grace be with you? “Greet one another with a holy kiss” -- No CoVid-19!! – 1 Corinthians 16 23-24 Not in Colossians . but in The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13.11; 1 you in Christ Jesus. Thessalonians 5:26 2 Corinthians 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the OR communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. IV. What else can we learn from names of people in the Ephesians 6. 23-24 letters? Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God (YELLOW HIGHLIGHT = repeats from Colossians) the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have Philemon 1-2, 22-25 an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, Philippians 4:19-20, 23 To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. in your house: To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. your prayers to be restored to you. 1 Thessalonians 5 28 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. you, 24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow 2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18 workers. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Timothy 4:10-21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. 10 Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me 2 Timothy 3:22 and gone to Thessalonica; The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus 3:15 Titus to Dalmatia. Grace be with all of you. 11Only Luke is with me. → ROMANS 16:25-27 (very similar to Colossians) Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.